Episcopal Life Online Daybook -- Today is Thursday, June 21, 2007.
* Today in Scripture:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm * Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm * Today in History: On this day in 1607, English settlers celebrated the first recorded Holy Communion at the Jamestown settlement in Virginia.
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PEOPLE
Anthony Pompa elected as Bethlehem Cathedral's new dean and rector http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_87037_ENG_HTM.htm
Southern California priest Norm Freeman performs on European tour with Barbra Streisand http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_87048_ENG_HTM.htm
Ben Helmer named vicar of three missions in Micronesia http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_87065_ENG_HTM.htm
Kris Lee named canon for communication for Diocese of Long Island http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_87105_ENG_HTM.htm
More People: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_ENG_HTM.htm
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Catalyst: "Brand Jesus: Christianity in a Consumerist Age" from Church Publishing, Inc., by Tyler Wigg Stevenson, 234 pages, paperback, c. 2007, $16
[Source: Church Publishing, Inc.] In this provocative book, the author argues that American Christianity, especially evangelicalism, has been corrupted by the dominance of consumerism in modern life. The church's mostly uncritical adoption of this secular condition has resulted in an idolatrous morphing of the message of Christ into just another brand. With Brand Jesus, Wigg Stevenson names the growing concern felt by many Christians at the commodification of their faith.
Using Paul's letter to the Romans as a starting point, Wigg Stevenson 'reads' the letter to today's church, speaking to the consumerist situation through the parallels with Paul's Rome. Though rooted unapologetically in a love for the church, Brand Jesus does not shy away from provocative claims about the melding of Christian faith and consumer ideals; the rise of market-driven theology; the blurring boundaries between the law and religion; and other topics. Wigg Stevenson describes the current situation of both church and society and issues a challenge to it: When faith is a product for consumption, how can the church be faithful to Christ as living Lord, instead of as Brand Jesus?
To order: Episcopal Books and Resources, online at http://www.episcopalbookstore.org or call 800-903-5544 -- or visit your local Episcopal bookseller, http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org.
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